Liang Shujun had a natural talent for business, and she revealed all her ideas, covering every aspect of daily life—food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—not to mention various odds and ends. Her countless imaginings left everyone in awe and admiration.
Her mind was truly a gold mine!
But starting a business required capital. They were poor before because, despite her talents, she had no opportunities to use them. Now, with a determined mindset to do something, and considering Big Brother had once brought back a big bag of treasure from Black Wind Camp, they could use these as initial funds.
The poorer grew poorer, and the richer grew richer. It wasn’t like before when a penny could stump a mighty hero. Since then, Shujun threw herself into her endeavors, bustling about day after day with great energy.
Before the New Year, the residents of Balibao who had husbands noticed that this town, which had remained unchanged for so many years, was suddenly transforming before their eyes day by day.
Dong Huiying didn’t understand the business world, but many of her ideas often had remarkable effects.
For instance, the three inns that Shujun had acquired, after a redesign suggested by her, took on a unique charm after redecoration.
For example, on the counter of the inn’s first floor were not just decorations, but consigned fragrant balm produced by Dong family’s Little Brother Sannian. The formula was improved upon by Dong Huiying and Yun Ge.
In addition, Balibao now had a ready-made clothing store, a perfumery, and a restaurant. However, these three shops were not yet in operation and would only open after the New Year.
Every day, Shujun was so busy she hardly touched the ground. For him, returning home daily to see his wife, holding her tender, warming presence, striving for the future of his family during the day, and having his own career to tend to was his happiest life.
On the thirtieth of the twelfth lunar month, New Year’s Eve, the Liang family, Dong family, Yun Ge, and the twenty or so female soldiers staying at the western side of Purple Garden, as well as Da Bai who had been playing in the mountains with his friends, all gathered in the large hall at the center of Purple Garden. Everyone was bustling about preparing for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Shujun had made new clothes for everyone; they all wore new clothes and new shoes, hoping for good omens and a fresh start in the New Year.
After eating dumplings in the evening, they began the tradition of staying up late to welcome the New Year. Yun Ge cradled a small jar of alcohol, taking sips from time to time, enchanted by the warm and simple life.
Hong Fei and the female soldiers had become thoroughly inebriated; some collapsed under tables and fell into deep slumber, while others were drunkenly gesticulating and sparring with their tongues.
Dong’s parents made it halfway through the night before they couldn’t hold out any longer, and later Yun Ge, too, fell asleep drunk, slumped in her chair, dozing off.
The Liang family, with one wife and six husbands, stayed awake until dawn. In between, only Shu Yu dozed off briefly; the rest were lively, their spirits elevated by several cups of yellow wine, heating up the atmosphere even more.
This wasn’t their first New Year’s together, but it was completely different in its significance.
Everyone was slightly tipsy, slightly intoxicated, including Yixuan who, despite his legendary tolerance that never allowed him to get drunk, now appeared a bit hazy-eyed after a night of drinking strong liquor.
In the past, New Year’s at the Liang family was always overshadowed by gloom. Life had been hard, and the New Year’s Eve dinner was just a hasty affair. After the mistress of the house had married into the family, New Year’s Eve had been a restless time for everyone, but this year was quite different.
As the sky was about to lighten, Big Brother Liang Zhichen climbed up the ladder to the roof, stumbling at one point and nearly falling off. Afterward, as he reached the rooftop, he extended his hand towards his wife.